BANDAI MBF-P02 GUNDAM ASTRAY RED FRAME (PG)

Description

MBF-P02 GUNDAM ASTRAY RED FRAMEProduct code : PG58463

Ending 4 yrs of secret development, the PG Gundam Astray Red Frame makes its big debut!
In keeping with the "Red Frame" designation, the movable frame around which the Perfect Grade series is designed is molded in red, with a completely articulated structure for exciting and flexible posing!
Shoulder units can extend outward for expanded range of movement.
Elbows feature multi-joint construction, allowing complex poses such as drawing the sword.
Stomach unit features full articulation, including "hydraulic" cylinders.
Knee armor designed to move along with poses.
Calf frame extends and retracts.

Battery-powered light-emitting diode (LED) system can be switched on to illuminate the eyes.
The Red Frame's trademark weapon, the "Gerbera Straight" long sword, features separate blade, guard, and pommel construction just like a real sword!

Blade portion is chromed plastic for a realistic finish, and features engraving on the lower part of the blade.
Guard and pommel-end are gold chromed plastic with detailed sculpting.
Blade is designed so as to be fastened in the pommel with rivets.
The scabbard for the Gerbera Straight incorporates a newly designed suspension unit for connection to the body.
Additional accessories include a beam rifle with accurate internal detail; a shield with actual direct-view shutter feature; and two beam sabers.
Includes instruction manual, mechanical description, and an original comic drawn by artist Koichi Tokita.

Technical Notes & Histories/Storyline:
When the Earth Alliance begins a project to build its own mobile suits, the initial work is done in conjunction with the Morgenroete research facility on the Orb space colony Heliopolis. While Orb assists in the research, they have an ulterior motive: steal the data from the Alliance to build their own mobile suits. From the stolen data, Orb constructs three prototype Gundam Astray units: the P01 Gold Frame, the P02 Red Frame and the P03 Blue Frame. While Orb is able to copy the Alliance's beam saber and beam rifle technology, they are unable to duplicate the Phase Shift armor and compensate by making the Astrays light and maneuverable. As with the Alliance suits, the Astrays are equipped with hand plugs to exchange energy and data with its carried weapons. The Alliance and Orb use different hand plugs, and only weapons designed for the Astray can be used without any modifications. However, the Red Frame is capable of emitting beam energy from its hand plugs for use as an emergency weapon.

The development of the Astray project is interrupted when ZAFT attacks Heliopolis on 25 January C.E. 71. Orb desires to keep the Astray project secret and destroys the Astray factory. However, a Coordinator named Rondo Ghina Sahaku is determined to save the three units. To that end, he downloads the data from all the Astray units into the Red Frame, including the latest version of the Astray operating system. The latest version of the Astray OS allows a Natural to pilot the suit, similar to the OS developed later on by Kira Yamato for the mass-produced MBF-M1 M1 Astray. Following the destruction of the Astray factory, the Red Frame is discovered by Junk Guild merchant Lowe Guele. Although the Red Frame comes armed with a beam saber and beam rifle, Lowe refrains from using these weapons because they drain energy from the Red Frame's battery. Instead, he prefers to use the "Gerbera Straight" katana, which is created for him by an eccentric old man named Un No.

After Lowe discovers the Red Frame, several parties make various attempts to capture the unit. In one such attempt, Orb test pilot Juri Wu Nien briefly steals the Red Frame to test if its operating system allows a Natural to pilot a mobile suit. In his travels, Lowe also encounters the Gold Frame, piloted by a female Coordinator named Rondo Mina Sahaku. In one encounter, the Red Frame is damaged and forced to enter Earth's atmosphere. Lowe repairs the destroyed right arm by replacing it with the Gold Frame's right arm. At Orb's Morgenroete facility, Lowe acquires a flight pack designed for the M1 Astray. Later on, Lowe creates further upgrades for his suit.